West German Parliament Leader Warns Against Revival of Anti-semitism

October 13, 1977

BONN (Oct. 12)

Karl Carstens, president of the Germen Bundestag (Parliament) has warned against a revival of anti-Semitic tendencies in the country. Addressing a meeting of the German Soldiers’ Association, Carstens said recent anti-Jewish incidents at a Munich army academy were damaging to the reputations of both the Federal Republic and its army. But Carstens stressed that the army had done its utmost to represent an “uncompromisingly democratic” standpoint.

Defense Ministry sources have, meanwhile, confirmed (following an investigation) press reports that young officers at the Munich academy engaged in a symbolic “Jew burning” while singing Nazi songs. The officers did not–as previously reported–write “Jude” on scraps of paper and cardboard which were tossed into a fire. But they did shout “throw another Jew in” as they fed the fire.

The Ministry has also confirmed further anti Semitic incidents in the army this year. A lieutenant who distributed anti-Semitic posters and stickers in Hamburg was dismissed from the army. Another officer had been imprisoned for six months and stripped of his rank for engaging in “incitement against a certain group” (volksverhetzung).